Canadian Atlantic cod fishery shows remarkable recovery through FIP

A cod fishery located in southern Newfoundland has garnered Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification, an accomplishment that goes to show the potential for once-struggling stocks to recover and rise to proper sustainability standards.

The Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Subdivision of 3Ps, the cod fishery in question, received its MSC certification following the successful completion of a WWF-led Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) in partnership with Icewater Seafoods Inc. Industry partners, governments and NGOs all participated in the FIP, which was designed to improve the health of the Newfoundland cod fishery, as to allow it entrance into the independent MSC certification process.

“WWF-Canada is proud to have played a part in helping the 3Ps cod fishery reach the MSC standard. As the world’s best standard for sustainable and well-managed fisheries, the MSC certification is a tremendous achievement that shows how collaboration across sectors can improve the health of fish stocks and benefit the communities that depend on them,” said David Miller, WWF-Canada’s president and CEO.

“Newfoundland fisheries have a long, rich history, and operating them sustainably means local communities can remain vibrant and competitive over the long term. The MSC certification is excellent news for our clients too, as it offers them the assurance that they are investing in the future of Newfoundland by choosing responsibly sourced seafood,” added Alberto Wareham, CEO of Icewater Seafoods.

The fishery is the country’s first Atlantic cod fishery to gain MSC certification recognition. After being placed under moratorium in the 1990s due to ecosystem changes and fishery management failures that caused stocks to plummet, NAFO zone 3Ps worked to improve stock standings, committing itself to the FIP from 2010 to 2014. The resulting MSC certification reinforces the work put in by hundreds of fishers and plant workers along the south coast of Newfoundland who depend on the fishery for their livelihoods.

“We are proud of the work completed by everyone involved in the journey to achieving MSC certification for 3Ps cod,” Wareham remarked. “As the seventh generation of my family working in this fishery, sustainability is important to us. I know it is also important to our customers and we are confident that the MSC certification will provide the assurance that our cod comes from a sustainable and well-managed source. It will also help the fishery remain sustainable through the natural ecosystem variations experienced off our coasts.”

Another member of the client group for the fishery, Ocean Choice International (OCI), shared its enthusiasm for this latest certification success.

“Currently almost all major species in the OCI portfolio are MSC certified, and we are extremely pleased to add this key species from the local fishery to our engagement in the MSC program. We are keen to see continued recovery of other cod stocks in waters adjacent to Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Martin Sullivan, CEO of OCI.

Annual audits will be conducted moving forward to ensure that each fishery retains its status while also implementing improvements, allowing it to progress toward a higher level of sustainability, said MSC.

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